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Palestinians tell 'Post' there are deep suspicions over Hamas's dissolution announcement in Gaza

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Palestinian officials expressed deep suspicion over Hamas's announcement of dissolving its Gaza governing committee, viewing it as a tactic to buy time and maintain control.
  • Sources stated Hamas seeks to retain both military capabilities and governmental authority, aiming to incorporate its security forces into any new governing body.
  • The core issue remains how the principle of 'one authority, one weapon' will be implemented, with calls for Hamas's weapons to be transferred to authorized Palestinian institutions.

Palestinian sources have voiced significant skepticism regarding Hamas's recent announcement about dissolving its governing committee in the Gaza Strip. They contend that the move is a strategic maneuver rather than a genuine relinquishment of power.

Hamas hasn't declared an end to its rule in the Gaza Strip.

— Senior Palestinian officialExpressing deep suspicion over Hamas's announcement of dissolving its governing committee.

A senior Palestinian official in Ramallah told The Jerusalem Post that Hamas has not truly ended its rule. "What they have done is announce the dissolution of what they call the emergency committee, but at the same time, they immediately declared that another temporary governing body would run the Strip and appointed someone to head it," the official explained. This suggests Hamas aims to maintain its grip on governance while appearing cooperative.

The official further elaborated that Hamas seeks to preserve its military strength and governmental authority. "They say they want to hand over authority to the technocratic committee, but I believe this is only as part of the discussions in Cairo, because they want to show that they are not the ones impeding the process," he said. The goal, according to this perspective, is to gain time and benefit from potential shifts in regional dynamics, such as developments between Iran and the United States.

What they have done is announce the dissolution of what they call the emergency committee, but at the same time, they immediately declared that another temporary governing body would run the Strip and appointed someone to head it.

— Senior Palestinian officialExplaining the perceived tactic behind Hamas's announcement.

A critical question highlighted is the implementation of the "one authority and one weapon" principle. Palestinian sources insist that Hamas's weapons must be disarmed and transferred to legitimate Palestinian institutions. Concerns also persist about Hamas attempting to integrate its police and security members into a new Gaza police force, potentially allowing them to carry weapons legally while still following Hamas's directives.

They want to buy more time, hoping that future circumstances may work to their advantage, possibly as a result of developments between Iran and the United States that could also benefit Gaza.

— Senior Palestinian officialSpeculating on Hamas's motivations for the announcement.

Another Palestinian source echoed these doubts, stating that the resignation of committee heads does not signify the end of Hamas's rule. This move is seen as a public relations effort to demonstrate a willingness to cede governance, while actually shifting responsibility to mediators and Israel. The underlying objective, it is suggested, includes securing financial support, which the organization currently struggles to obtain internationally.

how the principle of 'one authority and one weapon' will be implemented

— Senior Palestinian officialHighlighting a key question regarding future governance and security in Gaza.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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